No llms.txt File - AI Models Don't Know Your Site | AiVIS Cite Ledger

llms.txt is a new standard that lets you describe your website directly to AI language models. It's the fastest way to add context that AI systems can use for citations.

What is llms.txt?

llms.txt is a plaintext file at your domain root (/llms.txt) that describes your site for AI language models. It's like robots.txt, but for context instead of crawl rules.

The file typically includes your site name, description, key content areas, and instructions for how AI models should reference your content.

Why You Need It

Without llms.txt, AI models must infer what your site is about from raw HTML. With it, you provide curated context that improves citation accuracy.

Early adopters of llms.txt report more accurate AI citations because models can quickly verify the site's purpose without parsing every page.

Creating Your llms.txt

Create a plaintext file with your site name, a brief description, key content sections, and any citation preferences.

Host it at yourdomain.com/llms.txt and reference it in your robots.txt. Keep it concise, under 500 words is ideal.

Update it when your site structure or content focus changes. Stale llms.txt can mislead AI models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is llms.txt an official standard?
llms.txt is an emerging standard proposed for AI model communication. It's gaining adoption but is not yet universally supported by all AI systems.
Do AI models actually read llms.txt?
Some do. The standard is new but growing. Having it in place prepares your site for increasing AI-specific discovery and improves context for models that support it.
What should I include in llms.txt?
Site name, brief description, primary content categories, key pages, and any attribution preferences. Keep it factual and concise.